Healthcare is one sector where AI has been at the forefront of the technological revolution. Whether it is data sorting and storage, patient-doctor accessibility, virtual clinical studies, or dosage error reduction, AI has been doctors’ and tech enthusiasts’ favorite tool of the season.
Mindbowser has been in the market, bridging the gap between healthcare and tech for its clients and staff. AI has been at the forefront of not just healthcare evolution but also the way Pravin Uttarwar, the company’s CTO and CO-founder, runs his business.
With over 16 years of experience in the tech industry, Pravin’s approach and entrepreneurial mindset have been instrumental in driving cost savings and enhancing business strategies at Mindbowser.
In an exclusive interview with CIO&Leader, Pravin Uttarwar, CTO and Co-founder of Mindbowser Inc., shares his journey and insights on leveraging AI to transform healthcare.
CTO & Co-Founder
Mindbowser
CIO&Leader: Can you start by sharing your journey to becoming the CTO of Mindbowser?
Pravin Uttarwar: It’s an interesting journey. To give a bit of background, I’ll start from 2007. After completing my master’s in computer applications, I began searching for a job. At that time, the job market wasn’t great, but I landed a role at a very small startup as the third employee. It was an IT services company that also explored product development.
Working there allowed me to learn a lot because I was involved in everything from working closely with the founders, CTOs, and CEOs to sales and marketing. This exposure was invaluable. While many of my peers joined MNCs, I was happy in the startup environment, doing what I loved. I spent five years at that company and learned extensively.
During that time, I met my co-founder Ayush, who was handling the sales division. We became close friends, and in 2012, we decided to start our own company, which led to the founding of Mindbowser.
CIO&Leader: How has your experience in startups been different from your work at Mindbowser?
Pravin Uttarwar: Mindbowser also began as a small startup with just the two of us. We learned a lot from our previous experiences, including what not to do. We were determined to build a company with a strong culture and unique policies, which we have achieved at Mindbowser.
One unique initiative we have is the Mindbowser Mileage (M2) program. This program rewards employees at various stages of their career with benefits like money for a house or car and vacations, on top of their regular compensation. We wanted to ensure that our culture and employee satisfaction were not compromised.
CIO&Leader: How has the technological landscape evolved in terms of product development and innovation during your career?
Pravin Uttarwar: There have been significant changes over the past 12 years. When we started, mobile applications were the focus, with the ecosystem evolving around Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. Then came IoT, leading us to more projects involving smartphones, wearables, and sensors.
AI also began making its mark on mobile apps with features like auto-correct. More recently, generative AI and large language models have emerged. Although we didn’t delve deeply into blockchain, focusing elsewhere has paid off. The current trend is for startups to fail fast, launching products quickly to test the market and pivot as needed. This has driven innovation in automation and cloud technologies, which we have embraced at Mindbowser.
In healthcare, we focus on compliance and interoperability, which are critical in the US and increasingly in India. We are working on solutions to make healthcare systems more connected and efficient.
CIO&Leader: Can you discuss some breakthrough technologies Mindbowser has developed in the healthcare sector?
Pravin Uttarwar: In healthcare, we focus on creating next practices rather than following best practices. This approach helps us improve product engineering quality and delivery speed. For example, we’ve developed AI-driven clinical decision support systems to assist doctors in making better clinical decisions.
We also work on IoT and wearable integrations, like developing smart devices for continuous patient monitoring. Another innovation is in cloud computing. We have built a solution to launch HIPAA-compliant cloud infrastructures quickly, reducing setup time from months to days.
Our HealthConnect solution addresses interoperability by connecting different healthcare systems in the US. This API-based solution helps doctors access patient records seamlessly, enhancing patient care. We also use AI in various ways, such as generating clinical notes from telemedicine consultations to save doctors time and improve accuracy.
CIO&Leader: How do you see AI shaping the future of tech development, especially in healthcare?
Pravin Uttarwar: AI is a cornerstone of our strategy, unlocking new opportunities and enhancing healthcare solutions. For example, AI-driven clinical trials can assist and guide participants throughout the process. Advanced analytics and natural language processing also play significant roles.
AI helps generate clinical notes from telemedicine consultations, saving doctors time and increasing accuracy. In drug discovery, AI accelerates research and development by analyzing vast amounts of data. Additionally, AI-powered population health dashboards help hospitals manage resources and staff more effectively.
In predictive healthcare, AI analyzes historical data and social parameters to predict diseases and suggest preventive measures, improving patient care and clinical decision-making.
Also Read: AI Enhances Healthcare Cybersecurity, Reducing Data Breach Lifecycle by 50%
CIO&Leader: Are you reskilling your employees in AI?
Pravin Uttarwar: Yes, we provide internal training programs to ensure our employees understand and use AI responsibly. In healthcare, this means adhering to ethical AI principles and compliance regulations like HIPAA. Employees receive regular training on data security, compliance, and the legal implications of mishandling patient data.
CIO&Leader: Do you offer work-from-home or remote working options?
Pravin Uttarwar: Yes, we have a hybrid model. Employees hired with a remote work commitment continue to work remotely, while others follow a 3+2 hybrid schedule. We invested in improving remote work processes and tools to ensure productivity and security. Secure VPNs and restricted access to sensitive data help protect information, with non-production environments used for most work.
CIO&Leader: How do you ensure your products meet high standards of security and compliance?
Pravin Uttarwar: Security and compliance are paramount. We follow industry best practices, conduct regular audits, and provide continuous training. We also partner with major players like Vanta to stay updated on cloud security. Our internal processes ensure data encryption, strict access controls, and regular compliance audits, especially for healthcare clients.
CIO&Leader: What trends do you see emerging, and what challenges do you foresee in the tech industry?
Pravin Uttarwar: AI and ML will continue to advance, potentially replacing some manual jobs. However, roles requiring creativity and critical thinking will remain vital. Edge computing is gaining traction, providing low-latency solutions for remote areas. Cybersecurity is another critical area, with AI enhancing threat detection and prevention.
In India, the adoption of new technologies can be challenging due to diverse regulations and varying readiness levels. However, the potential for innovation is enormous, and the government is taking steps to create a supportive ecosystem.
CIO&Leader: What is the roadmap ahead for Mindbowser?
Pravin Uttarwar: Our primary focus is on healthcare, continuing to innovate and deliver customer-centric solutions. We invest in research and new technologies like AI, cloud, and IoT to improve patient care and compliance. Our commitment to technological innovation and customer success drives us to push boundaries and make a positive impact on people’s lives.